LANSING – State Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard) today announced that House Democrats have passed two budgets that increase investment in Michigan schools for the 2007-08 school year. The budgets will protect rural school systems, put an emphasis on early education and ensure that schools have the resources they need to give every Michigan student a high-quality education.
"Michigan's public school system is the backbone of our state's economy," McDowell said. "We must give our schools the tools they need to prepare our students for the job market in the 21st century global economy. By investing in our schools, we are investing in our future."
House Democrats last week presented two budgets for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1: the School Aid Fund (SAF) and the Department of Education (DOE).
The SAF budget increased 2.3 percent, or $300.2 million, compared with the 2006-07 budget year. The budget increases the per-pupil funding by $100 and invests more money in early education programs to prepare students for academic success from an early age. The DOE budget increased by 7.95 percent, or $7.2 million, compared with the 2006-07 budget year.
McDowell noted that the SAF budget provides an additional $16 million for schools with two or more years of declining pupil enrollment numbers, and an additional $93 million in equity payments, helping to ensure that rural school systems in northern Michigan are not overlooked in favor of larger districts. The budget also includes an additional $20 million in transportation grants -- $15 million for districts larger than 156 square miles and $5 million for districts with fewer than five pupils per square mile.
"All Michigan residents deserve a quality education, whether they live in St. Ignace or St. Claire Shores," McDowell said. "The key to getting Michigan back on track is to invest in our students to ensure we have the best-educated workforce possible. Increasing investment in our students will create the highly educated workforce we need to turn Michigan into a magnet for 21st century jobs."